Table top, counter top, or the like



3, 1942. w. e. DIETER 'ETAL' 2,272,058

nawror, comm T01, on mun Filed Oct. 1a, 1938 z-s'muu-shut 1 3M WALTE'K6. DIET ER. 7

TTON.

V Patented Feb. 3, 1942 v 2,272,058 7 k H TABLE ToacoeN TER wenogwnmmeWalter G. DietengWilliamG.Ritton, andIPaul j Y l Hu k shura aeas sm s toL bey-OWeris-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, I a corporationbffo lfiov Y 7 Application oewber 18, 19%, Serial No zsassz 1 Claims. (01. 31 11t6) p 7 associated? therewith ferconnecting adjacent l The presentinventionrelates "t6 amrhproved compound slab or panel for-use .astable-tops,

counter topsand the, like. I

' The compound slab or panel herein provided consists broadly of afacing sheet r plate of y I opaque structural glass or other frangiblematerial provided with a reinforcing backing 'per'ma- I nently securedthereto by an interposed sheet or layer of strengthening material andalso having a preferably metallic band or rim arranged at one or moreedges of the facing sheetand backing for protecting the said facing frombeing chipped or fractured. Y

An object of this inventionis to provide a com pound slab or panel ofthe above character hav- 1 ing an improved type of reinforcing backingcoupledwith novel means for permanently secur= ing the said backing tothefaci'ng sheet, thereby resulting in a more serviceable, durable con-'-st'ruction. v g

Another object-of the invention is to provide a compound slab or panelof theabove character having novel means for effectively protecting theedges of the facing sheet against injury through blows against the"same; said protective means having a portion thereof embedded in saidbacking so that it is firmly and permanently secured in place.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a compound slab or panel ofthe aboveicharac't'er embodying novel means for facilitatingtheali'g'ning of the slabs or panels, espe'ciallywhen' used as a countertop or thelika-to provide a sounder, more rigid construction andminimize, if not,

entirely prevent, chippingor spalli'ng of the edges of adjacent facingsheets... I Other objects and'advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent during the course-of the following description, when takenin connec-- tion with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same: 7

Fig. 1 is an edge view of a table top formed ofa compound slab or panelembodying the present invention;

of opaquestructural'glass, may be of any other Vitreous material.Underlying the facing sheet 5 is a reinforcing: ba'cking or body portion6 ar rangedover the ntirear'eajm said "facing and permanently secured;thereto by an interposed non-brittlesheet or-layer, of-strengthenin'g material 1. The backing s is adapted'tobe formed from a suitablecementitious material, preferably gypsum,while.thestrengthening.material l preferablyconsistsl of a sheet ofroofing m'aterial having a fibrous base coated with a bituminoussubstance such as asphaltum.

One type of strengthening material which has been used withsatisfactoryresults is that made and sold by theRuberoid Company, ofErie-Pa.) underthe trade name Ru-beroid. min-ga of material isrelatively inexpensive, will stand tofore, thereby reducing the cost of'the unit.

Fig. 2 is a perspective sectional View of a per- 7 tion thereof;

Fig; 3 is a plan View of a counter top formed of compound slabs orpanels also embodying the invention; I p

. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on'line 44 of Fig. 3;and c Fig. 5 is a perspectiye view of one 'of the compound Slabs orpanels having' dowr members.

up over a relativelylong periodof tim'e, and does not deteriorate.Byformlngthebacking 6 of gypsumanduniting the same to the facing sheet 5withjthe non brittle sheetof' roofing material I, there isprovided acompound slab or panel of exceptiimal strength'and durability. I 1

The,.sheet 'oflstrengthening material'l and backing] 6 serve'to greatlyreinforce the facing sheet; 5 and; when structural glass is used, permitthe use'of a relatively thinner sheet than here- Another advantageis-that eve'nthough a crack mightdevelop in theglass facing itwouldhardl y be perceptible on such a 'unitasthe sheet of.

strengthening material would prevent the crack fromopening. Also, 'ifthe glass'fa'cing sheet Should become broken, the strengthening mate'-rial would retain the pieces in much the same manner'as safety glass.The sheet of strength ening material serves further to cushion thefacing against shock and blows, thereby greatly in creasing itsstrength; anuyresistance to breakage. In order to pfetect the edges orthe facing sheet enemy, the invention has been illustrated in Figs. 1and 2', as being applied 5 from blows and the like which might result inthe chipping or fracturing thereof, as well as for covering the edges ofthe backing 6 to give a neater and more finished appearance, there isarranged around the perimeter of the compound slab or panel a protectiverim or band 8. As shown, this rim covers not only the edges of thefacing sheet but also extends down far enough to effectually conceal theedges of the backing. The protective rim 8 may be of any desired crosssection and likewise of any desired material; although it is preferablyof metal. The metal rim can, if desired, be coated upon its outersurface with a colored enamel to provide an attractive trim for thetable top or it can be suitably striped with enamel to match the glassfacing whereby to create a massive effect and the illusion of a heavyslab or panel.

For the purpose of securing the metal rim 8 to the compound slab orpanel without marring the facing sheet 5, it is provided with suitableanchoring means adapted to be embedded in the cementitious backing 6. Ashere shown, the anchoring means comprises a flange or tongue 9, carriedby and extending inwardly at substantially right angles to the rim 8 andprovided at its free end with an enlarged key or anchoring portion ID inthe form of a hollow bead. The flange 9 and anchoring portion In mayextend the entire length of the metal rim or a plurality of spacedlocking elements can be provided, as desired.

When forming the compound slab, the sheet of strengthening material I isfirst adapted to be secured to the bottom surface of the facing sheet 5.This can be accomplished by treating one side of the sheet 1 withturpentine and permitting it to stand until it becomes tacky. The sheetis then placed upon the bottom surface of the facing, with the tackyside in contact therewith and the said sheet weighted down and allowedto stand the required length of time until it becomes firmly secured tothe facing.

There is then provided a suitable mold of the desired shape and size andthe facing sheet is laid upon the bottom of the mold with the sheet ofstrengthening material facing upwardly. The metal rim 8 is also properlyassociated with the facing in the mold. The upper side of the sheet ofstrengthening material is then treated inthe same manner with turpentineuntil it also becomes tacky, whereupon the cementitious ma-' terialforming the backing 6 is poured into the mold upon the sheet ofstrengthening material I. The cementitious material is then allowed toset whereupon the compound slab is ready for use. When the materialforming the backing 8 hardens, it will be readily seen that the enlargedanchoring portions ID of the metal rim will be securely embeddedtherein, thus effectively preventing the metal rim from becoming looseor disengaged from the compound slab.

Although it is preferred to make use of gypsum for the backing 6 and asheet of roofing material for the strengthening layer 1 as set forthabove, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theuse of these particular materials. On the other hand, a layer of masticor plastic cement may be substituted for the sheet of roofing material 1and likewise the backing '6 may be formed of cement-plaster, concrete,or a similar material. Also, the backing might be lightened by mixingasbestos, cork, sawdust, rock wool, or the like with the cementitiousmaterial.

When gypsum is used, it is preferred that the lower portion of the metalrim 8, which comes in contact with the gypsum, be provided with acoating of mastic or cement I l to form a suitable bond between thegypsum and metal rim as well as to retard rusting of the rim. Theflanges 9 and anchoring portions I may be similarly coated to retardrusting. The cementitious backing 6 is also preferably, although notnecessarily, reinforced with a layer of wire mesh or metal lath 12. Whenusing the slab or panel as a table top, it is adapted to be secured to asuitable supporting standard I 3 or the like in any desired manner.

In Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings is shown specifically a portion of acounter top or the like, including the two compound slabs or panels l4and I5 provided by the present invention. These slabs are arranged sideby side in abutting relation and each comprises a facing sheet l6 ofopaque structural glass or other frangible material, a reinforcingbacking ll of suitable cementitious material, and an interposed sheet orlayer of strengthening material l8 for permanently securing the facingand backing to one another. The outer exposed edges of each slab areprovided with a metal band or rim l9 which is disposed opposite theedges of the facing sheet and likewise covers the edges of the backing.The rim is secured in place by suitabl anchoring means including theenlarged hollow bead 20 embedded in the backing H. The lower portion ofthe metal rim which comes in contact with the cementitious material canbe coated with a lay-er of mastic or cement 2| to form a suitable bondbetween the rim and cementitious material and also retard rusting of therim. The reinforcing backing l'l may consist of gypsum,

cement-plaster, concrete, or other desired ceing slabs are adapted to beinterlocked with one another in a manner not only to secure them inproper position but to facilitate the aligning thereof. To this end, thebacking of one of the slabs, and as here shown slab I4, is provided atone edge with a transverse groove 22, while the backing of slab I5 isprovided with a projecting tongue 23 adapted to fit snugly in groove 22.This tongue and groove arrangement greatly facilitates the aligning ofthe slabs during installation to provide a sounder and more rigidconstruction while preventing chipping or spalling of the adjacent edgesof the facing sheets such as would be apt to occur were they not held inperfect alignment. Dishes and glassware can also be slid over the facingsheets, aligned in this manner, without danger of breakage.

According to the invention, the backing of each slab also projectsslightly beyond the adjacent edge of the facing sheet at the endprovided with the tongue or groove so as to further minimize danger ofchipping or spalling of the edges of the facings when abutting theslabs. As shown, the abutting edges 24 and 25 of slabs l4 and I5respectively project slightly beyond the corresponding edges of thefacing sheets so that when the slabs are moved into interlockingrelation and the edges 24 and 25 abut one another there will be a slightspace or gap between the corresponding edges of the facing sheets. Thejoint thus created can be filled either with a pointing compound 26 orit can be cushioned with a strip of cork tape or the like and thenpointed. This slight separation of the adjoining edges of the facingsheets coupled with the strengthening ma-, terial beneath the saidsheets will effectively take 1 care of any variation in the contractionand expansion' of the facings and backings.

If desired, instead of using the tongue and groove constructionillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 for lining up adjacent slabs, thearrangement 11- lustrated in Fig. 5 may be employed. The slab heredisclosed also consists of a facing sheet 21 of opaque structural glassor other frangible m aterial, a backing 28 formed from a suitable ce-.mentitious material and an interposed layer or sheet of strengtheningmaterial 29 for securing the facing and backing together. Arranged alongopposite sides of the slab are the metal rims or' bands 303l) providedwith'the inwardly directed flanges 3ih3l terminating in the hollow beads32--32. When used to form a counter top or the like, the adjacent slabsare adapted to be connected together by the fiat metal dowel members33-33 which are inserted within the hollow beads 32--32 of adjoiningslabs. These dowel members or pins are adapted to be of such shape as'to snugly fit Within thebeads 32 so as to'prevent relative movementtherebetween. They will thus serve to effectively line up the outsideedges of the metal rims of adjacent slabs as Well as the upper surfacesof the facing sheets.

It is to be understood that the form of .theinvention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same,

arrangementof parts may be resorted to without departing from the spiritof the inventionor the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

and that various changes in the shape, size and V We claim: j I 1. In atable top, counter top or the like, a

plurality of compoundslabs or panels arranged side by side in abuttingrelation, each comprising a frangible faoing'sheet a reinforcing backingbeneath and secured to said facing sheet, and a protective-metal rimextending-alongthe exposed edges of each slab and having" a portionthereof embedded in the reinforcing backing, the reinforcing backingsofadjoining panels beingpro-v 'vided at their meeting edges and inwardlyof the I opposite side edges thereof with interlocking tongue andgrooveportions whereby said slabs may be aligned with one another, theopposite ends of said groove being closed and engageable by theends' ofsaid tongue to'prevent transverse relative movement between the said,slabs. V

2. In a table top, counter top or the like, a

slabs projecting beyond ,thgCOllESpOndiIlg edges of the facing sheetsand .being providedwith interlocking tongue and groove portions spacedinwardly from the side edges thereof to: facilitate the alignment of theslabs, the opposite ends of said groove being closed and engageablebythe ends of said tongue toprevent relative transverse movement betweenthe said slabs, the projecting meeting edges of adjacent slabsserving-to space the corresponding facing, sheets from one another. i

WALTER G. DIETER.

WILLIAM RI'I'ION.

. PAUL M. HULL. Y

